Bangladesh Catholic Psychologist Urges Mental Health Awareness and Early Care

A Catholic psychologist has urged families, churches and government agencies in Bangladesh to strengthen mental health awareness and access to professional care as the country marks World Mental Health Day on October 10.

Dipika Gomes, who provides online and in-person counseling through the Healing Heart platform, said stigma, limited awareness and inadequate services prevent many people from seeking help for psychological and emotional difficulties.

This year’s World Mental Health Day theme, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change,” highlights the importance of listening to people living with mental health conditions.

Bangladesh’s National Mental Health Survey 2018–19, published in 2021, found that 18.7 percent of adults experienced mental health conditions, with a higher prevalence among women (21.5 percent) than men (15.7 percent).

The survey also identified a significant treatment gap: 92.3 percent of adults and 94.3 percent of children and adolescents with mental health conditions received no professional care.

The consequences of unaddressed psychological distress can be devastating. Rumon Gomes (pseudonym), a 17-year-old Catholic teenager, died by suicide after struggling with emotional pain following his mother’s departure from the family and remarriage. His father, a day laborer, and older sister were unaware of the depth of his suffering.

His death highlights the importance of recognizing distress and creating safe spaces where young people can speak openly about their struggles.

Gomes, who holds a master’s degree in clinical and counseling psychology from Jagannath University, works with Healing Heart, an initiative founded by Sr. Lipy Gloria Rozario of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows.

The ministry offers support for people experiencing trauma, depression, anxiety, stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anger management difficulties and low self-esteem.

“Most of the people I see suffer from trauma,” Gomes told RVA News. She said painful childhood experiences can resurface years later and affect daily life.

She identified social stigma as a major obstacle to treatment. While people readily seek medical attention for physical ailments, many hesitate to consult mental health professionals.

Early intervention, she said, can help people address problems before they become more severe. Her clients include students struggling with concentration, employees facing workplace stress and individuals experiencing persistent anxiety.

Gomes also challenged the perception that counseling is necessarily unaffordable, saying timely professional support can help people recover and resume their daily activities.

She urged parents to maintain open, supportive relationships with their children, listen without judgment and avoid imposing decisions. Healthy family communication, she said, is essential to emotional well-being.

The Church can also contribute by organizing awareness programs, encouraging parish priests to discuss mental health and using Catholic schools, organizations and digital platforms to share reliable information.

Gomes called on the government to invest more in mental health infrastructure and expand specialized services. Bangladesh has limited dedicated public mental health facilities relative to its population of more than 170 million.

In his World Mental Health Day message, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said health encompasses physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being, adding that mental health must not be neglected.

Gomes urged people experiencing emotional difficulties to recognize their needs and seek qualified professional help, emphasizing that mental health deserves the same attention as physical health.